Mysore - News thread

[s.yogendra]

Mysore to host tennis tournament

International Tennis Federation (ITF) tennis tournament for men — ITF Mysore Open — in which players from 12 nations will participate, will be held here from June 4 to 9.

Deputy Commissioner P.S. Vastrad said here on Thursday that the matches would be held at the Mysore Tennis Club, which has five courts.

He told mediapersons that an international tennis tournament was being held for the first time in Mysore.

As many as 32 players would take part in the qualifying rounds scheduled to be held on June 2 and 3 and eight players would qualify for the main event. As many as 20 higher-ranked players would get direct entry, apart from four wild card entries, to the main event. Suraj R. Prajwal of Mysore, who has played in the Australian Open, too would be seen in action, Mr. Vastrad said.

Sunil Yajman, tournament director, said that players ranked from 250 to 500 in the world would participate in the event, including India's Vishnuvardhan and Karan Rastogi.

The ITF was a $10,000 tournament and Mysore had the infrastructure to organise even a $50,000-worth international event, Mr. Yajman said in reply to a question.

The ITF event would help identify the genuine tennis talent in the country to make them become top-notchers. Ramanathan Krishnan, who was ranked world no. 3 once, was still the highest ranked player India ever produced, Mr. Yajman said.

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper...cle3406796.ece

[s.yogendra]

image hosted on flickr

Grow towards Night !! by Kanishka **, on Flickr

[s.yogendra]

image hosted on flickr

Lalitha Mahal by Alok Aparanji Photography, on Flickr

[engineer.akash]

Gateways are tell-tale structures

Mysore was influenced by European architecture is evident from the gateways that have survived over decades. Though preserved, there have been few efforts to showcase them in Heritage City.

Gateway is a point of entry to a property enclosed by walls. In Mysore, they were built at the entries of prominent buildings to denote the stature of the monuments, which have survived despite the city witnessing change. When the groundwork for the construction of the opulent Government House was launched in 1800s, the builders endowed it with a majestic gateway at its southern end. The arch gate, raised to some 30 feet, is composed of some of the finest details and provides a royal entrance to the Government House. The monument was built as a villa for the British Resident and was reserved for the distinguished European guests who visited the Mysore State.

The European-classical gateway was a perfect fit for the single-storey structure, which is of the Doric order of architecture. Over the years, as the density at the city centre increased, the space abutting the gateway is used for public purpose. With that, the arch gate came to be at the middle of the busy junction, exposing itself to risks. Though Mysore police saved it from being pulled down, there are no efforts to showcase its achievements and speak about its age and architecture. The gateway, built at the northern end, has three openings, lending a quaint charm to the surroundings. But this too has not got its due.

Built a century later, the gateway to the DC's office -- originally called as Dewan's Kacheri -- must also have added value to the opulent two-storey structure. Built in 1895, the office is one of the beautiful period buildings located in what was earlier known as Gordon Park. The gateway, in fact, opened to the Gordon Park, which was basically an open space with pubic utilities spread across like the ones in DC's office, Maharaja's College, Maharaja's High School and Maharani's College.

The gateway proclaimed hierarchical status of the dewan who was the head of the administration in the erstwhile state, while the maharajas ruled the state. Preserved by the authorities, it is not showcased, while the other gateway pushed into the Maharani's College campus is neglected.

The Guard Room that opens to Lalit Mahal Palace, the simmering white palace in the city at the foot of Chamundi Hills, has also now come to be regarded as an "obstacle". It is sought to be eased out when the plan for the widening of Narasimharaja Boulevard is pushed forward.

[Junior Engineer]

Deputy Commissioner's Office

image hosted on flickr

DC Office by Junior Engineer, on Flickr

image hosted on flickr

DC Office by Junior Engineer, on Flickr

[s.yogendra]

ಕಾರಂಜಿಕೆರೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಚಿಲಿಪಿಲಿ

ಮೈಸೂರು: ಕಾರಂಜಿ ಕೆರೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಚಿಣ್ಣಿರಿಗೆ ಆಟಿಕೆಗಳೊಂದಿಗೆ ಆಡುವ ಸಂಭ್ರಮವಾದರೆ, ಪೋಷಕರಿಗೆ ಪಕ್ಷಿಗಳ ಚಿಲಿಪಿಲಿ ಕೇಳುವ ಕಾತರ...

ಚಿಲಿಪಿಲಿ ಗುಟ್ಟುತ್ತ ಅತ್ತಿಂದ ಇತ್ತ, ಇತ್ತಿಂದ ಅತ್ತ ಹಾರಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ಪಕ್ಷಿಗಳನ್ನು ನೋಡುವುದೇ ಒಂದು ಸಂತೋಷ.

ಲೇಡಿ ಆಂಹಸ್ಟ್, ಫೆಸೆಂಟ್, ಚೈನೀಸ್ ಫೆಸೆಂಟ್, ಸೊಲ್ವರ್ ಫೆಸೆಂಟ್, ಕೆಂಪು ಕಾಡು ಕೋಳಿ ಸೇರಿದಂತೆ ಅಲ್ಲಿದ್ದ ನೂರಾರು ಪಕ್ಷಿಗಳ ಕಲರವ ವೀಕ್ಷಕರನ್ನು ತನ್ನತ್ತ ಆಕರ್ಷಿಸಲು ಪ್ರೈಪೋಟಿ ನಡೆಸಿದಂತೆ ಕಾಣುತ್ತಿತ್ತು. ಇನ್ನೂ ಮಕ್ಕಳಿಗೆಂದೇ ವಿಶೇಷವಾಗಿ ನಿರ್ಮಿಸಿರುವ ಆಟಿಕೆ ಗಳನ್ನು ಒಳಗೊಂಡ ಉದ್ಯಾನವನ ಮಕ್ಕಳ ಖುಷಿಗೆ ಮತ್ತಷ್ಟು ಮೆರುಗು ನೀಡಿದರೆ, ಪಕ್ಷಿಗಳ ಮನೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಕಾವಾ ವಿದ್ಯಾರ್ಥಿಗಳು ಬಿಡಿಸಿದ ಚಿತ್ರಗಳೂ ಕೂಡ ವೀಕ್ಷಕರ ಕಣ್ಮನ ಸೆಳೆದವು.

ಮೈಸೂರಿನ ಕಾರಂಜಿಕೆರೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ನೂತನವಾಗಿ ನಿರ್ಮಿಸಿ ರುವ ಪಕ್ಷಿಗಳ ಆವರಣ ಹಾಗೂ ಮಕ್ಕಳ ಉದ್ಯಾನವನ ಉದ್ಘಾಟನೆಗೊಂಡ ಬುಧವಾರ ಕಂಡು ಬಂದ ವಾತಾವರಣವಿದು.
ಪಕ್ಷಿಗಳ ಆವರಣ ಮತ್ತು ಮಕ್ಕಳ ಉದ್ಯಾನವನವನ್ನು ಉದ್ಘಾಟಿಸಿ ಮಾತನಾಡಿದ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಮೃಗಾಲಯ ಪ್ರಾಧಿಕಾರ ಅಧ್ಯಕ್ಷ ಎಂ.ನಂಜುಂಡಸ್ವಾಮಿ, ಮೃಗಾಲಯ ದಲ್ಲಿದ್ದ ಹೆಚ್ಚುವರಿ ಪಕ್ಷಿಗಳನ್ನು ನೂತನವಾಗಿ ನಿರ್ಮಿಸಿ ರುವ ಮನೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಬಿಡಲಾಗಿದೆ. ಜತೆಗೆ ಪಕ್ಷಿಗಳು ಹೊರಗಡೆ ಬಂದು ಸ್ವಚ್ಛಂದವಾಗಿ ಹಾರಾಡಲು ಅವಕಾಶ ಕಲ್ಪಿಸುವಂತ ವಾತಾವರಣ ಸೃಷ್ಟಿಸಲಾಗಿದೆ ಎಂದರು.

ಮಕ್ಕಳ ಆಟಿಕೆಗಳಿಗಾಗಿ 14.5 ಲಕ್ಷ ರೂ. ಹಾಗೂ ಪಕ್ಷಿಗಳ ಮನೆ ನಿರ್ಮಾಣಕ್ಕೆ 11 ಲಕ್ಷ ರೂ. ವ್ಯಯಿಸಲಾಗಿದೆ ಎಂದರು. ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಮೃಗಾಲಯ ಪ್ರಾಧಿಕಾರದ ಸದಸ್ಯ ಕಾರ್ಯದರ್ಶಿ ಆರ್.ಎಸ್. ಸುರೇಶ್ ಹಾಜರಿದ್ದರು.

ಕೋಟ್ ಕಾರ್ನರ್
ಸಾಮಾನ್ಯವಾಗಿ ಉದ್ಯಾನವನದಲ್ಲಿರುವ ಆಟಿಕೆಗಳು ಬಿಸಿಲಿನಲ್ಲಿರುತ್ತವೆ. ಇದರಿಂದ ಮಕ್ಕಳು ಬೆಳಗಿನ ಸಮಯ ದಲ್ಲಿ ಆಟವಾಡಲು ಪೋಷಕರು ಅವಕಾಶ ನೀಡುವುದಿಲ್ಲ. ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಮರದ ನೆರಳಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಉದ್ಯಾನ ನಿರ್ಮಿಸಿರುವುದು ಬೆಳಗಿನ ಸಮಯ ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಬಂದು ಮಕ್ಕಳೊಂದಿಗೆ ಕಾಲ ಕಳೆಯಬಹುದು.??- ಸುಜಾತ ಗೃಹಿಣಿ

ಕಾರಂಜಿ ಕೆರೆಯೆಂದರೆ ನಿಸರ್ಗ ಪ್ರಿಯರ ಸ್ವರ್ಗ ಎಂಬುದು ತಿಳಿದ ವಿಚಾರವೇ. ಇದರೊಟ್ಟಿಗೆ ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಮತ್ತಷ್ಟು ಪಕ್ಷಿಗಳನ್ನು ಬಿಟ್ಟಿರುವುದು ಪ್ರವಾಸಿಗರ ಖುಷಿ ದ್ವಿಗುಣಗೊಳಿಸುತ್ತದೆ.

http://vijaykarnataka.indiatimes.com...w/13081509.cms

[s.yogendra]

image hosted on flickr

A View From Brindavan Garden by matey_88 ( OFF ), on Flickr

[catchshash]

Originally Posted by s.yogendra

image hosted on flickr

A View From Brindavan Garden by matey_88 ( OFF ), on Flickr

which hillock is that?

[s.yogendra]

MCC TO CELEBRATE 150TH ANNIVERSARY ON JULY 24

Mysore, May 15- The Mysore City Corporation (MCC) will be celebrating its 150th anniversary on July 24.

Preparations

At the outset, a Consultative Committee has been constituted to make plans for celebrating the 150th anniversary in a grand manner. The Consultative Committee comprises the Mayor, MCC Commissioner and Chairmen of all Standing Committees of the MCC.

This Committee will form three Committees namely Reception Committee, Sports Committee and Cultural Committee, according to Mayor Rajeshwari Puttaswamy.

A sum of Rs. 50 lakh has been set aside for the event, which includes a cultural programme and sports meet for the Corporators.

The Chief Minister will be invited to attend the function as the chief guest. All former Mayors, Corporators and dignitaries who strove for the city's development, will be felicitated on the occasion, according to MCC Commissioner K.S. Raikar.

MCC has 65 Wards with as many Corporators and till date, has seen 23 Mayors.

History of MCC

The erstwhile rulers of Mysore, for the first time in the country, made the people participate in administrative matters under a democratic set up.

A committee for civic administration was constituted in July 1862. Later, a Municipality was established in 1888 and converted into a Corporation in 1977. Maharaja Chamaraja Wadiyar enacted the Act to govern the Municipal Administration in 1888, which was derived from such a body in Bangalore. The Act came into effect in 1890.

http://www.starofmysore.com

[s.yogendra]

Beautify Mysore Palace surroundings by Dasara: Mayor

Mayor Rajeshwari Puttaswamy has directed the authorities to complete the JnNurm project to beautify the surroundings of Mysore Palace before Dasara to facilitate tourists.
The Palace environs will be given a facelift by making overhead electricity lines go underground and by lying of service cables. The project includes constructing a drain around the outer wall of the fort that surrounds the Palace. The 1.7-km stretch will be built at a cost of Rs 16 crore. The groundwork, which has started two months ago, would get over by year-end.

During a spot inspection of JnNURM works here on Tuesday, the mayor noticed that the pace of the work was slow. She ordered it to be completed by October. Dasara festival will commence from mid-October this season. "The works are slow and the stretch is artery in the central business district (CBD). I've ordered the works to be completed by Dasara season," she told TOI.

At Town Hall, where a multi-level parking lot is under construction, she found that safety measures were not being followed. The mayor said she also found that the quality of works was compromised prima facie, and sought a lab report of the materials used. "There are pending works, and their pace is slow. This needs to be fixed," she stated.

The mayor also found some lapses -- construction workers not wearing safety helmets, and officials being absent at the spot. Taking serious note of the lapses, she said this was a planned visit. "I'll pay a surprise visit as a follow-up," she added.

The mayor also visited Sewage Farm, where a solid waste processing plant is being upgraded.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/c...w/13160254.cms

[s.yogendra]

MAYOR APPEALED TO MAKE MYSORE A GENETIC ENGINEERING-FREE CITY

The Mysore City Corporation (MCC) should take a decision with regard to making Mysore a genetic engineering-free city, at the next Council meeting, urged activists of different organisations and associations. They also submitted a memorandum to Mayor M.C. Rajeshwari Puttaswamy at the Corporation auditorium here yesterday.

The genetic engineering is destroying the agriculture system. In the interest of public health and protection of health of the biosphere, this decision is inevitable. Genetically modified food grains should be banned as the basic features of the plant will undergo change with the modification of genes of that plant. Hence, it should be ensured that genetically modified seeds and plants do not come to Mysore, they said.

There is a danger of genetic engineering influencing the food and agricultural system of the heritage city of Mysore. The technology will destroy the original quality of Veeranagere tender brinjal, betel leaves, Nanjangud Rasabale, avarekayi, Mysore mallige and so on. Hence we should awaken to the dangers now itself, they added.

Corporator P. Devaraj, who spoke, said it is true that farmers are showing interest to grow genetically modified seeds due to reduced cost and high yield. Awareness should be created among them at government level and this will strengthen the Corporation in its implementation.

"Organisations and Associations are doing a good job by protesting against the genetically modified crops. If the MCC supports this, it will have strengthen the demands of the NGOs. Efforts were made to introduce the BT brinjal, an offshoot of genetically modified seed. Due to strong opposition, this was dropped," the activists said.

"The technology will have its adverse effects not only on the seeds but also on the food items. In such cases, it should specified that it is a product of genetic engineering," said K.N. Rama-chandra of Southern Action on Genetic Engineering (SAGE).

Devaraj assured the NGOs that the Corporators and officials of the Corporation should be apprised of the correct information and details about the dangers of genetically modified technology. To discuss this, a meeting would be arranged shortly and the NGOs would be invited to furnish a detailed report. After scrutinising this, its ban in city would be considered.

Corporator T. Devaraj, SAGE activists Lakshminarayana, Prof. Muzaffar Assadi, Ravikumar, Kamalaraman, Siddaraju and others were present.

http://www.starofmysore.com

[s.yogendra]

image hosted on flickr


copyrights:- Nabarun Majumdar

[s.yogendra]

Mysore gets ready for celebrations

While the City of Palaces has decided to celebrate the centenary of Amba Vilas Palace in December this year, the Mysore City Corporation (MCC) too has thrown its hat in the ring. The MCC is all set to celebrate its 150th year of operations in July.

MCC is one of the earliest democratic organisations, said mayor Rajeshwari Puttaswamy.

“We checked the records and found that the first civic body was set up in Mysore in July 1862. In 1888, a municipality was established, which was then converted into a corporation in 1977. The Maharaja of Mysore, Chamaraja Wadiyar, passed the Act to govern the municipal administration in 1888. Although the Act came into force only in 1890, the first council had begun working in 1862,” said mayor Puttaswamy.

The MCC has outlaid a sum of `50 lakh to hold year-long programmes in the city.The main programme will be held in the third week of July, which will be inaugurated by the chief minister. All surviving mayors and top officials, who served the corporation, will be honoured.

http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/re...ations_1689390

[s.yogendra]

Time to remove the tint

The latest move by RTO is sure to put four-wheeler users in a fix. Regional transport officers have asked owners of four-wheelers to remove the tint on the windscreen and rear windows. Failing which, they will have to pay fine once the drive starts in a of couple weeks.

The move follows Supreme Court's observation that tinted glass is one of the factors for increasing crime in the country, and the subsequent direction to implement Central Motor Vehicle Rules (1989) in this regard.

The rule says 70% visibility is a must for windscreen and 50% for side glasses. But car owners in Mysore say it will inconvenience them, rather serving any purpose. Almost all four-wheeler users in the city are using dark tints.

RTO (west) Siddappa H Kaller told TOI that following SC direction, they have appealed to vehicle users through the media to maintain minimum tint on glasses. "We are chalking out measures in this regard. We shall spread awareness on the matter before starting the drive to check and remove tints beyond permissible limits," he added.

The officer, however, claimed that they have started removing tints of vehicles visiting the RTOs for services. The officer said they have to form teams and procure light meters for checking.

A police officer said they are awaiting instruction from transport officials to start the drive. Moreover, he said, the officers should first themselves comply with the rule before initiating action against other vehicle users. Almost every government vehicle here uses dark tints.

Police commissioner K L Sudheer said they will seek direction from their higher-ups in Bangalore before starting the drive here.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/c...w/13160199.cms

[s.yogendra]

Cleaner street food being lapped up by tourists in Mysore

Street food joints in the city are back in their more hygienic avatar, and the tourists are loving it. When the city of palaces was hit by a rash of epidemics in April, these joints had gone out of business.

Taking advantage, the restaurants and hotels had jacked up their prices.

Hence, their recent reopening was welcomed by budget tourists, who find street food economical and tastier. “I have tasted street vegetarian food in Mysore and atop Chamundi hills. The vendors who serve hot masala dosas in Gandhi Square and hot idlis on Valmiki Road are as good as those in good restaurants in the city. In fact they were a tad better in taste,” said Raghavendra Rao, a visitor from Bangalore.

But Rao failed to mention the cost factor. He and his family can have breakfast from a street food vendor for little more than ` 100, while if he had tried the eatery attached to the hotel, he will have to shell out no less than ` 250. A plate of idli, vada and a coffee, almost a staple for all budget travelers, costs ` 67 at restaurants.
Corporation officials hostile

But street food vendors complain that corporation officials are still very hostile towards them.

“They do not like us, they think we are not tourist-friendly and we give a bad name to this glorious city. But we are not, we may operate from the streets, but we procure our provisions from the quality stores the same way like the big hotels, we use the same cooking oil and vegetables like they do, we also pay taxes to the Mysore City Corporation in smaller proportions. Still they do not allow us to continue, and we are unable to gauge the reason,” said Krishnamurthy a street food vendor near Clock Tower.

The street food joints located near Clock Tower circle, Gandhi Square, in front of the Dasaprakash Hotel, KR Market circle, Irwin Road, Rama Vilas Road, Krishna Vilas Road, Valmiki Road were still facing the ire of the Mysore city corporation.

Mysore City Corporation health officials said the eateries were still not following health and hygiene guidelines. “We want them to submit totally to our command and make their establishments absolutely safe for consumers. We cannot run the risk of having one more round of epidemics,” they added.

Manjunath Doddamani, president of the Chamundi Raste Badi Vyaparigala Rakshana Samithi told DNA, “Street vendors were catering to the casual sector, who are also budget travelers. The Corporation cannot ask them to eat in expensive restaurants.”

http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/re...mysore_1687805

[s.yogendra]

Four-day realty expo in Mysore from tomorrow

A four-day realty show will be held here from Friday at the Maharaja's College Grounds to bring potential buyers, sellers and financial institutions on a common platform.

My Realty 2012 has been organised by the Builders Association of India, Mysore chapter, and the Confederation of Real Estate Developers Association of India (CREDAI).

S. Prakash, Chairman, My Realty2012, told presspersons on Tuesday that 23 property developers and builders from Mysore and Bangalore would showcase properties in and around the city for potential buyers.

Clean transaction

He said it would facilitate a clean and transparent transaction and five financial institutions had confirmed their participation in the realty show.

When asked if there was demand for apartments in Mysore where the preference was for plots for construction rather than ready-to-occupy apartments, Mr.Prakash said the new generation of local citizens was keen on buying apartments as evident in the slew of properties cropping up in Mysore.

Occupancy rates

When pointed out that the occupancy rates in apartments was not encouraging or was negligible, Mr.Prakash said there had been sea change in the public perception of apartments and supply had not over shot the demand.

In reply to a question as to why property rates in Mysore – especially apartments – were almost on par with the selling rate in Bangalore, the BAI representatives said it had to do with the taxation policy and the floor area ratio (FAR).

“We have been lobbying with the government for many years to increase the FAR from the current 1.5 or 2 to at least 3 which will help reduce the cost but to no avail,” the added.

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper...cle3427494.ece

[s.yogendra]

Private company’s initiative to make Mysore plastic free

How often can one see a chief executive officer of a leading company picking up garbage from road side? But, all top management personnel of Triton Valve — led by their CEO Aditya Gokarn — along with 150 employees started picking up garbage on the Mysore-Bantwal road near Hootagally recently.

The initiative was launched on the company premises at 8 am at Hootagally. As they were cleaning the roads, some were showing placards with slogans telling the public how we can protect the environment.

The message of ‘plastic free movement’ by the company was to impress upon the public that while wastes like food, paper, wood wastes will deteriorate without creating much permanent harm to nature, plastic waste is a menace — lasting hundreds of years.

Though this is a simple message, how many of us act? How many of us even take time to read and reflect upon the critical need of handling the garbage problem, which has started to drown the city? Just imagine if some companies at Hootaglly follow Triton’s example and start such projects, how beautiful our city would be.

Some NGOs and individuals have taken up projects like this in the past. There have been several attempts to clean Chamundi Hill, Kukkarahalli lake, areas near Zoo, etc. But all of them have been one-time efforts, not supported by sustainable activity.

Triton has taken up this initiative on a long-term basis. Its employees have taken a pledge not to use plastic bags while shopping. They will spread the message about the menace of plastic to others. Triton will make and distribute cloth bags to prevent the use of plastic bags. It will undertake plastic collection drives from time to time at Hootagally.
Triton has decided to clear vacant sites of plastic at Hootagally.

It will keep bins or gunny sacks at vantage points in the area so that people can use them to discard plastic and other wastes.
The Mysore City Corporation can compliment such initiatives by adopting and implementing rules to ban plastic. It can also revolutionise its garbage collection and handling activity.

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/...ke-mysore.html

[pnvijoo]

Originally Posted by s.yogendra

Greek ‘Latin’ touch to Mysore inlay art

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/...ore-inlay.html

[pnvijoo]

Howda...!!? :P

[pnvijoo]

^ I did not knew